Anderson’s Primary School pupils helped Forres Community Woodland Trust volunteers remove invasive species and plant native trees at Sanquhar Wood
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
GREEN-fingered youngsters from a local school have teamed up with an environmental group to help conserve a Forres beauty spot.
A class of 27 Anderson’s P6 pupils helped Forres Community Woodland Trust (FCWT) volunteers remove invasive species and plant native trees at Sanquhar Wood, and FCWT secretary Gisela MacFarquhar appreciated their support.
She said: “Our volunteers were very impressed with the children’s enthusiasm, the interest they showed and the amount of work they got done. We spent an afternoon pulling up invasive Western Hemlock saplings and planting native oak. The pupils helped clean the forest floor, pulling up thousands of plants from the tiniest two-inch seedling to two-foot tall young trees. Groups of three then planted oak saplings in support stakes, and put a protective guard around the little trees. Everybody had a great time working in the open air in the knowledge that they were doing something useful for our environment.”
P6 teacher, Mrs Jen Dawson, confirmed the volunteering work will help them achieve a John Muir Award which encourages people to enjoy and care for wild places.
She said: “The class had fun while learning about how to care for our local woodland. We came up with a proposal which included discovering our local area – each week we go outdoors and complete tasks in our local woodland. We’ve done leaf and twig-matching at Helge’s Hole and built dens at Nelson’s Tower. We have also helped rake leaves with the supervision of Forres in Bloom. Part of our block of learning is to carry out conservation work so I contacted FCWT to see if they needed our help supporting the biodiversity of a local forest.”
Pupil Lily-Ann Dinnes (10) said: “Foreign species can multiply quickly and the wildlife doesn’t thrive as well with foreign plants.
Our native wildlife survive better with plants that are native to Scotland such as oak trees.”
Classmate Callum Kippax (10) added: “The trust volunteers showed us what to do and explained why it was important. I enjoyed pulling out the shoots of the Western Hemlock trees the most because it was hard work and I like a challenge.”
FCWT is currently looking for volunteers. Work parties take place monthly on Saturday mornings and tools are provided. Email fcwt.secretary@gmail.com or call 01309 673230 for more information.
